Man Utd give surprise player priority over Rashford in contract discussions

Tom Weber

• Updated: 28 Mar 2023 11:48 BST
• 4 min read

Manchester United are keen to tie Marcus Rashford down to a new deal, but now, David de Gea has surprisingly emerged to be of a higher priority than the winger in contract discussions.

Old Trafford has been the place of a lot of speculation in recent months. The news of Manchester United being put up for sale by the Glazers has generated plenty of media focus, but work behind the scenes has never ceased.

Indeed, the Red Devils have quietly been working on signing several players to new contracts lately and even a potential sale should not jeopardise the negotiations.

Perhaps the most high-profile name to be tied down to a new and improved deal is Marcus Rashford. The forward has looked revitalised under Erik ten Hag and become a real standout performer for United this season.

The 25-year-old has hit the back of the net 27 times and contributed nine assists across all competitions this term, a statistic that includes scoring the winner in the League Cup final against Newcastle United. The Englishman is enjoying the best goalscoring campaign of his career.

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With his current contract up next year, United are, unsurprisingly, seeking to give Rashford a long-term deal - but he's not the only player set to get a new contract.

David de Gea further along

Indeed, as the Athletic reports, the negotiations with David de Gea over a fresh deal have had priority until now as his current contract expires in the summer. A simple extension has not been triggered with United trying to get the Spaniard to take a pay cut, but negotiations are further along than with Rashford.

Dea Gea, at one point considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world, has had a mixed bag of performances in recent seasons. Erik ten Hag, however, has put his faith in the Spaniard.

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While much improved lately, the 32-year-old has at times struggled with the ball-playing demanded by the Dutch coach, and there have been repeated suggestions that Man Utd could look to replace him in the near future. Even with a new deal, these rumours are unlikely to subside.